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Nunavut Land Claim Agreement

Assessing Effects on Human Health Meadowbank Gold Project Margaux Brisco Nunavut Impact Review Board Final Hearings, Baker Lake, Nunavut March 27 to 31, 2006. Nunavut Land Claim Agreement. Requires a consideration of environmental and socio-economic effects. Health Canada.

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Nunavut Land Claim Agreement

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  1. Assessing Effects on Human HealthMeadowbank Gold ProjectMargaux BriscoNunavut Impact Review Board Final Hearings, Baker Lake, NunavutMarch 27 to 31, 2006

  2. Nunavut Land Claim Agreement • Requires a consideration of environmental and socio-economic effects

  3. Health Canada • Expert information and knowledge about human health • Promotes a holistic definition of human health: -complete physical, mental and social well-being -not only the absence of disease or infirmity.

  4. Health Canada’s Review of the Meadowbank Gold Project • Air Quality • Drinking Water Quality • Noise • Country Foods • Socio-economic • Occupational Health & Safety Plan

  5. Air Quality • Issues: - Dust -construction -road traffic -mine operations - Emissions from burning fuel -trucks -machinery -power plant

  6. Air Quality • Health Canada’s initial comments have been addressed • No indication of concern for human health • We encourage monitoring

  7. Drinking Water Quality • Issues: - Dike construction(construction phase) -Discharge to lakes (operational phase) - Reflooding of mine pits (decommissioning)

  8. Drinking Water Quality • Predicted maximum values for Third Portage Lake are not expected to have any health effects. • Monitoring will indicate if drinking water guidelines are exceeded.

  9. Noise • Issues: - Construction - Mine operations -blasting, crushing, drilling… - Road traffic

  10. Noise • Potential for sleep disturbance at workers’ quarters • World Health Organization’s Community Noise Guidelines

  11. Noise • Possibility of summer camps near the mine site • Recommendation: noise at the camp sites should also be monitored

  12. Country Foods • Fish • Mammals • Birds

  13. Country Foods • Issues: - Changes to bodies of water -dikes -reflooding

  14. Country Foods • Monitoring of foods recommended-Arctic char • A baseline should be collected to verify predictions

  15. Socio-Economics • Issues: - Rotational Employment - Housing - Community Wellness - Public Health & Safety - Effects of Closure

  16. Socio-Economics • Concerns have been addressed • It is acknowledged that there is potential for some negative effects • Mitigation and management are important

  17. Occupational Health & Safety Plan • Health Canada recommends that a nurse be hired at the mine site. -To meet workers’ needs • Accidents • Infectious disease -To prevent pressure on health services in Baker Lake

  18. References • Canadian Handbook on Health Impact Assessment http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/eval/index_e.html • Determinants of Health website: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/phdd/determinants/index.html • Health Canada website: www.hc-sc.gc.ca • Environmental Health Assessment Services website: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ehas

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